Can’t find a job? Don’t panic, say MENC collegiate advisors David Rickels, Jill Sullivan, and Deborah Barber. You’re more likely to find a job when you don’t limit yourself to considering only “dream jobs.” These advisors have 10 tips for broadening your search: 
 

1. Look outside your own area or state at both public and private schools. See where music teachers are needed. Remember, jobs aren’t evenly distributed throughout the country.
    
2. Consider yourself a music teacher first, and a band/choir/orchestra/general music specialist second. In most states, teachers are certified in K-12 music with no specialization. This means you’re highly qualified for lots of things. Look for jobs that are slightly outside your comfort zone to get into a district, and something else may open in a few years. You may find that you like something more than you expected.
    
3. Consider different grade levels. Even if you want to teach high school band, you can make a difference in the lives of K-5 students in a general music classroom.
    
4. Seek out rural job openings. You may find it incredibly rewarding to be Mr./Ms. Music to students across grade levels in a smaller community. Many rural schools have trouble finding music teachers simply because they don't have as loud a voice as a big suburban school district.
    
5. Don't give up by June. School districts sometimes hold off hiring decisions until late in the year due to state budgetary processes. In some schools, internal transfers must be completed before outside applicants can apply for jobs. This all translates into a lot of jobs being posted in July and August. File your applications early to be in prime position for these late-breaking jobs.
    
6. Network. Keep in touch with your mentors. Check with local churches, who sometimes hire musicians. Pop in at the local music stores. These places will often hear where jobs are even before official postings.
    
7. Substitute. If full-time work doesn't appear by the start of the school year, consider substitute teaching. Substitutes with good reputations can get called for a lot of work, and it establishes you in the district. A job may appear the next year, or even mid-year.
    
8. Stay active with community musicians. Community performance groups are made up of music teachers, who can help out your professional network. And children's community music groups provide a great way for you to continue developing your teaching skills.
    
9. Join the local musician’s union. It’s a good way to rub elbows with other music teachers in the area.
    
10. Do something fun while you wait.
     

Comments? See discussion box below or go to the Future Teachers Forum.

MENC Resources:

Getting Your First Teaching Job: The Job Search
Getting Your First Teaching Job: The Interview
Finding Your First Job as a Public School Music Teacher
7 Job-Hunting Tips
Prelude to a Job, Parts 1-6
Preparing to Teach Music in Today’s School, The Job Search
Job Hunting Throughout the College Years
What’s Lurking in Your Online Profile, Parts 1-3
Career Center – Find a Job

--Jen Reed, June 16, 2010 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education.